Tex. Prop. Code Ann. §§ 92.001–92.355 § 92.160
TYPE, BRAND, AND MANNER OF INSTALLATION.
Operative Text
Sec. 92.160. TYPE, BRAND, AND MANNER OF INSTALLATION. Except as otherwise required by this subchapter, a landlord may select the type, brand, and manner of installation, including placement, of a security device installed under this subchapter. This section does not apply to a security device installed, repaired, changed, replaced, or rekeyed by a tenant under Section 92.164(a)(1) or 92.165(1). Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 357, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Under Texas Property Code § 92.160, a landlord generally has broad discretion to choose the type, brand, and placement of any security device they install in a rental unit, as long as their choices comply with the other requirements set out in the subchapter. This flexibility does not extend to situations where a tenant installs, repairs, changes, replaces, or rekeys a security device under their own statutory rights found in §§ 92.164(a)(1) or 92.165(1). In those tenant-initiated scenarios, the landlord's discretion over device selection and installation method does not apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 92.160, landlords retain meaningful discretion when fulfilling their security device obligations — they may choose the specific type, brand, and installation method, including placement, of any device they provide. Compliant operators typically document their device selections and ensure those choices still satisfy all other requirements within the subchapter, such as minimum functionality standards. It is worth noting that this discretion does not carry over to devices that a tenant installs or modifies under their own rights granted elsewhere in the statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 92.160 defines the scope of a landlord's discretion over security devices, but it explicitly carves out situations where tenants exercise their own installation or rekeying rights under §§ 92.164(a)(1) and 92.165(1). Tenants who believe a landlord's device choices fail to meet the broader requirements of the subchapter — even within the landlord's permitted discretion — may have grounds to raise that concern with a local housing authority or a tenant-rights organization. Understanding where the landlord's discretion ends and tenant rights begin under § 92.160 can be an important starting point when evaluating a security device dispute.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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